A field which covers material from the late medieval period through to the 20th century and includes particular specific subjects such as Scottish dirks, naval dirks and Third Reich dress dirks. Good reference books include The Scottish dirk by James D Forman.

Designated for issue to soldiers not armed with the bayonet, this knife (marked on the guard and blade 'U.S. M3' and on the chape 'U.S. M8A1') was especially designed for such shock units as parachute troops and rangers. The production of the Mark 3 knife began in 1943 and ceased in August 1944.

This is amongst the rarest types, with the face of the scabbard and hilt formed of complex silver-gilt filigree work, highlighted with sparsely applied niello inlay. It is from the era of Shamil, the legendary Khan of Daghestan (modern Chechnya), in the northern Caucasus.

This bronze chape (3cm across at the top) would have been the bottom mount of a scabbard, probably for a dagger, typically one of the classic left-hand daggers so often seen on portraits of the period with the pommel peeping out on the other side to that of the rapier. Decoration on 17th-century pieces tends to be much simpler.

This is the Bolo knife designed more as a tool than a combat weapon for the 'Doughboy' (slang name for US GIs in WW1) machine gunners in France. There is a maker's mark on the base of the blade, which appears to be double stamped, possibly Plumb. There is a scabbard maker's mark on the leather chape - something like Grauer 1918.

This rare boot knife has what appears to be a belt clip on the top of the scabbard. These weapons were made in the closing years of WW2, when many of the troops were issued with self-loading assault rifles which has no provision for a bayonet. The absence of inspection stamps might suggest this was a private purchase item.

The left-hand knife in the top and bottom photos (with the darker grip) is a real original. The right-hand example, as well as the two centre photos, are of a modern copy, almost certainly made in Pakistan. NB: the marlin spike has an RB number identical to the original and a Luftwaffe acceptance stamp as well.